Season 35 was shaping as one of the most exciting the Super League had ever seen. Two big names were set to go head to head for the title as Blu3red's Tour de France faced off against Duffster's Zabriskie Point once again. Newly-promoted Sonata Arctica also had a strong team and would be a threat.

Elsewhere, all eyes would be on Stoke Madhatters FC and their manager Mrblobbysdad, who had guided them into the Super League all the way from Division Eight. Others wondered whether time was up for traditional powerhouses Dead Empire and AS Roma. Prior to the start of the season, Xpert Daily spoke exclusively with an Xpert who predicted the entire finishing order of the League.

Zabriskie Point
This team has been building for a while, and I think this could be their season. They have a strong team with no apparent weaknesses. Many of their players are just reaching their prime, and they will be hungry after finishing second last season. The only potential achilles heal is the possibility of injuries to Fernando Vilardi or Feliciano Caballero, positions where they lack cover.

Tour de France
The champions of the last three seasons remain formidable and will be very hard to beat this season. After three seasons of glory, the only question is whether the squad retains the hunger, especially with several key players now on the wrong side of 30. That said, their top players are not yet ready for the pension book, and betting against them has been shown to be a poor investment.

Sonata Arctica
The Cup finalists from a few seasons back have, incredibly, had the same manager from Day one, and look by far the strongest of the promoted teams. They have a powerful squad of players ready reach their prime over the next few seasons and even the depth to cope with a few injuries. Questions will be asked about a lack of experience at this level, and that may leave them just short of winning the title this season. They will still be a very tough nut to crack.

Caricatos FC
The strongest squad "on paper" in the Division. They looked set to be major contenders a few seasons ago after winning the Cup and finishing well in the League, but it didn't quite happen for one reason or another, and they are now returning from Division 1b after a relegation in season 33. Some believe this squad has missed it's chance at glory, with a couple of key players getting a little long in the tooth, but they shouldn't be easy-beats this time around.

Stoke Madhatters FC
Another team who have been building for a while, they have reached the top flight on the back of four consecutive promotions. Manager Mrblobbysdad has built a team well capable of surviving this season, but one gets the feeling that their best is probably a season or two away. They should finish in the comfort zone, with something to build on for next season.

Minerul Petrosani
With some of their better players passing their prime, this club has maintained a big squad with plenty of younger players under development. They still have their share of talent, but the depth probably isn't the same as some of their opponents this season. They will need a good run with injuries and suspensions to get through the season.

AS Roma
The former Super League champions have been in decline for a few seasons now. They are solid (if ageing) at the back, but a lack of goals could be their achilles heal this season. They appear to have been left behind by the strengthening of their rivals, and this could see them lose their top flight place. They will be relying heavily on a limited number of individuals to keep them up.

Dead Empire
Once the perennial runners up in this League, Dead Empire have lost a number of players in recent times to a combination of old age and rival clubs, and the bank balance has not yet been utilised to recruit like for like replacements. It could be a rebuilding season, which will make it difficult for them to retain their Super League status. The experience of manager Osamabenjamin seems to be their greatest asset right now.

A big crowd was on hand at The Chamber of Souls, most of them hoping to see Super League veterans Dead Empire put new boys Sonata Arctica in their place. They would be disappointed. Derick Agnew's 20th minute free kick was followed by Alf Rae's chipped finish and Sonata were 2-0 up after 23 minutes. Gareth Lopson missed a penalty for the home side, but Zenobiusz Sowinski did make the score 2-1 with a neat finish from a flowing move. Brendan Kildare's 65th minute header restored Sonata's two goal advantage, and they were untroubled after that.

Elsewhere, Stoke Madhatters FC had a rough Super League debut, falling 4-1 to Zabriskie Point, and having Gary Ellemark dismissed in the 84th minute. Tour de France accounted for Minerul Petrosani, and the much-maligned AS Roma shocked Caricatos FC 4-1.

All eyes were on Death Valley to see the top two from last season face off. Giampaolo Sansonetti thought he had given Zabriskie Point a first half lead, only for referee Travis Tee to rule otherwise. Sansonetti's day got worse when he was carried of the field on a stretcher in the 54th minute. Verner Bakker did manage a winner for Zabriskie, powerfully heading home Panayotis Konstantopoulos' cross. Zabriskie Point with the first shot in the title race.

Other matches saw Derick Agnew score two free kicks for Sonata Actica to beat an ill-disiplined Minerul Petrosani. Caricatos got their season back on track with a 4-1 hammering of Stoke Madhatters, while AS Roma shared the points with Dead Empire.

Sonata Arctica had started the season well, but faced their biggest test when they travelled to Death Valley to face Zabriskie Point. Things didn't start well for the visitors as Giampaolo Sansonetti put Zabriskie in front with a 4th minute header from Sas Quatch's cross. The arrival of half time substitute Brendon Kildare changed the match, first when Kildare somehow got his head to Phil MacLeish's wild cross to level the match at 1-1. The home fans were silenced when Emanuell Bergendorff nodded home an 89th minute cross from Davide Marco Faraoni and Sonata had the points.

Other matches saw Tour de France recover from last week's defeat by inflicting Stoke Madhatters' third consecutive 4-1 defeat. Dead Empire broke their duck with a win over Caricatos FC, and Minerul Petrosani inflicted AS Roma's first defeat of the season.

AS Roma had started the season better than some critics had expected, and fancied their chances of a result when they hosted the mighty Zabriskie Point. It was indiscipline that dashed their hopes. Archie Judd gave away the free kick that allowed Zabriskie skipper Ahti Telka to rifle home a powerful 11th minute free kick. 21 year old substitute did level for the home side in the 80th minute, scrambling home after Fabrício Fragoso's corner. However Roma's discipline deserted them again, Lukas Malmsten fouling Telka, who then got up to power home another free kick for the winner. Rutger Täppman's late dismissal made it a miserable day for the home side.

Other matches saw Sonata Arctica crush Stoke Madhatters FC, who have now conceded 16 goals in their opening four matches. Dead Empire produced their second consecutive win as they accounted for Minerul Petrosani, while Tour de France gained momentum with a 3-0 win over struggling Caricatos FC. The match saw TdF goalkeeper Leif Flenning convert a penalty, just to prove he can do it at both ends.

Newly-promoted Sonata Arctica had risen to the top of the Super League with last week's win, but now they faced a trip to the altitude of Alpe d'Huez to face three-time champions Tour de France. Rob MacGillespie's early header gave TdF a 16th minute lead, but Fritjof Slottner used his head to reply for the visitors. From then on, Tour de France produced a vintage performance. Afnan Onn made it 2-1 with a swerving free kick, before Brian Beeney's looping header gave the hosts a 3-1 advantage at the break. Onn added his second trademark free kick on 70 minutes, and Hipólito Varinho's long range effort made it 5-1 in stoppage time.

In other matches, Zabriskie Point crushed Dead Empire 4-0. Stoke Madhatters took their first win with a comprehensive 3-0 rout of AS Roma, while Caricatos FC fell at home to Minerul Petrosani.

After being suffocated by a difficult early fixture list, Stoke Madhatters were now looking to get their season on track, following their first win. They took on a Dead Empire team who had also shown signs of life in recent weeks. Gary Ellemark's 12 minute free kick gave Stoke the early advantage, one they would hold on to, although not all that comfortably at times. Victor Rang wrapped up the points for the home side when he latched onto a loose ball from Cuthbert Nugent's dangerous corner.

In other matches, Zabriskie Point crushed Minerul Petrosani to continue their recent good form. Sonata Arctica recovered from last week's heavy defeat to hammer Caricatos FC. Tour de France warmed up for the Xpert Champions League final with a 2-0 win at AS Roma. The defeat saw the resignation of long-serving Roma manager Gialorosso immediately after the match.

Minerul Petrosani and Stoke Madhatters engaged in a wild-west style shootout at Lunca Jiului to mark the half way point of the season. Luke Labadie's 6th minute header gave Minerul the early advantage, but Sven-Bertil Wennersten took just four minutes to level with a header of his own. Wennersten added a second on 24 minutes, with yet another header. Jermaine Lovell bundled home Zachery Lister's free kick for 2-2 on 36 minutes. Labadie's second gave Minerul a 52nd minute lead, but Cuthbert Nugent levelled tidily from close range on 69 minutes for 3-3. Frederico Feijoo's 82nd minute header finally secured the points for Minerul after a breathless match.

Other matches saw Tour de France recover from their Xpert Champions League final defeat to take three points from the Chamber of Souls. Zabriskie Point easily accounted for Caricatos FC, while Sonata Arctica ensured that new Roma manager Flavoris started with a defeat.

The Caricatos FC fans who ventured out to see their side take on a rampaging Zabriskie Point must have feared the worst, yet a committed and disciplined performance saw them shut out the League Leaders and claim a point that could yet have ramifications at both ends of the table. The dropped points see Zabriskie drop to third.

Other matches saw Stoke Madhatters FC crush Minerul Petrosani 4-0 to haul themselves out of the relegation zone. Tour de France destroyed a poor Dead Empire 4-0, while Sonata Arctica striker Alf Rae had a day out in his team's 4-1 win at AS Roma. Rae scored three of his team's goals, and provided the assist for the fourth as Sonata keep up the pressure on Tour de France.

After eight rounds, this is how the table is shaping up:

Super League - after eight rounds

Team

GP

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

Pts.

1

Tour de France

8

7

0

1

23

4

19

21

2

Sonata Arctica

8

7

0

1

23

10

13

21

3

Zabriskie Point

8

6

1

1

20

4

16

19

4

Stoke Madhatters FC

8

3

0

5

15

20

-5

9

5

Minerul Petrosani

8

3

0

5

10

21

-11

9

6

Dead Empire

8

2

1

5

7

18

-11

7

7

AS Roma

8

1

1

6

9

19

-10

4

8

Caricatos FC

8

1

1

6

9

20

-11

4

Division 1a sees Coven United lead the way, but their 2-2 draw with Capmeister United in Round eight has allowed a number of teams to close the gap. Coven have 15 points, but are only two clear of TSV Sporto, Capmeister and Darmstadt Rebels. Division 1b, meanwhile, appears to be a three horse race with Renegades of Funk leading the way on 19 points, S. Lourenço FC on 18, and FC Ploiesti Vest on 17. All three won handsomely in the latest round.

Super League Cup

The Super League Cup had been shared between League powerhouses Tour de France and Zabriskie Point during the last three seasons, yet most observers argue that it's this competition that provides the greatest opportunity for someone else to upset the apple cart. Let's see if it happened this time around…

Round One
The first round of the Cup is the perfect opportunity for lesser known players, teams and managers to make the headlines by racking up huge scores against abysmal opponents. Hurr Durr FC made their bid for immortality with an 8-0 crushing of InterO in the second leg, with Ruca Spora and Fandi Ahmad each getting hat tricks. The first leg had seen Hurr Durr win by the more modest score of 6-0, with Juan Arango getting a hat trick on that occasion.

Inte Arsenal Iallafall had one man to thank for their 6-0 first leg win over Bruno E Marco, with Katai Morioka scoring three of the goals, and creating the other three. Morioka might have felt a little redundant in the second leg, scoring only once as Iallafall won 7-0 regardless.

Division Seven St Pauli might have fancied their chances against Hazel Grove United when Hüseyin Yalcin's 84th minute header gave them the lead. Stan Ashby replied for United with a long range effort to set up an intriguing second leg. The return at Chester Field saw United blow St Pauli out of the water with a crushing 6-1 win, which saw St Pauli manager Sel_Arazli sacked immediately after the match.

Round Two
Round Two sees the big boys enter the Cup for the first time, and Zabriskie Point took the opportunity to make a statement. As if their 7-0 first leg win over Rach FC of Division Six wasn't enough, Zabriskie went on to win the second leg 9-0, with Ahti Telka and Giampaolo Sansonetti each managing a hat trick.

Romanian Bohemia, freshly promoted from Division Seven, pulled off the biggest shock of the round when they accounted for Division Two FC Barcelona United. Bohemia took the lead twice in the first leg in Bucharest through Alex Izzet and Bruno Mais, only for Barca to level twice through Jeremie Bullard and Cristian Mutariu. Matthew Trought managed a late winner for Bohemia. Barca were expected to sweep Bohemia aside in Camp Nou, but Mario Bechtold gave Bohemia a shock lead. Dani Pernambucano headed Barca back into the contest on 65 minutes, but they were unable to find the goal that would have sent them through on away goals.

Elsewhere, holders Tour de France eased through to the Third Round, accounting for Metal of Division Six by a comfortable aggregate score of 6-1. Last season's runners' up GKS Vitcovia Witkowo also progressed with plenty to spare, eliminating Målerås IF 5-0 on aggregate.

Round Three
Division Five Fantasy Football Club were left to rue an early disallowed goal to Vladimir Kozhemyakin in their match with Third Division Tirana Jaguars. Jaguars would take a 42nd minute lead through Milton Bennett, but Fantasy still seemed to take control of the tie with strikes from Stepan Perfilov, Vyacheslav Lyadov and Yan Patrakov. Unfortunately for Fantasy, Tirana just blew them out of the water in the second leg. An early strike from Sebastião Rui Costa, followed by a brace from Luis Vigneri sealed the tie for Tirana, who could even afford the late dismissal of Dwight Grover.

Zsigmond SK of Division Six played out an exciting 2-2 draw with visiting Ellesmere Panthers from Division Three in their first leg. The Panthers twice took the lead, through Quigley Nelson and Eddie Marklund. However, Zsigmond refused to give up, replying twice through Leo Ödell and Aidan Gregory deep into stoppage time. The Panthers then took a 36th minute lead through Marklund's free kick in the second leg at the Ellesmere Arena, but again Zsigmond refused to buckle. Contel Contescu's long range effort was followed by Aidan Gregory's close range finish, and Zsigmond progressed.

Holders Tour de France eliminated a workmanlike Ebchester Athletic from Division Five with a 5-2 aggregate result. Meanwhile, Gks Vitcovia Witkowo just about did enough with a 3-1 aggregate win over GD Portel, also of Division Five.

Round FourAS Roma have exited the Cup, after an epic match with newly-promoted Division Four side Team Arcadia. Hans-Åke Oxeröd put Arcadia in front in the 29th minute, but Fabrício Fragoso levelled for the Super League side ten minutes into the second half. Adílio Merino put Arcadia back in front just two minutes later. Ugolino Urso thought he had levelled for Roma, but his effort was chalked off by referee Robert Nixon. Fragoso did manage to level for Roma in the 74th minute, but parity lasted just three minutes until Oxeröd was able to sprint clear of Roma's defence to slot home and give Arcadia a memorable victory.

Lamotte Olympic from Division Five pulled off a shock when they eliminated first Division Capmeister United, although Lamotte would surely concede it was a fairly outrageous victory. Capmeister dominated the match from the opening whistle, but in the 42nd minute, Enzo Brunot latched onto Lassana Hurel's through ball to round Capmeister keeper Rick Allen and tuck the ball away for 1-0. Numerous Capmeister attacks failed to change the score, and in the end it was Lamotte who progressed.

Elsewhere, holders Tour de France moved into the fifth round with a 2-0 win over Deepdale AFC courtesy of an Albert Hammerhand penalty an an Afnan Onn free kick. Beaten finalists Gks Vitcovia Witkowo also progressed, eliminating SafeMode FC 2-0 through strikes from Czesiek Szulcik and Dorinel Macoviciuc.

Round FiveMuffin Stuffers were semi-finalists last season, but that cut no ice with Division Three rivals Ciervo Neptuno, who were still chasing revenge for their elimination from the Cup four seasons ago at the hands of today's opponent. Costin Atudorei thought he'd given Muffin a 16th minute lead, but referee Constance Paine decided to live up to her name, at least from Muffin's perspective. Sid Stonem scored what proved to be the winner for Ciervo on 23 minutes, latching onto Richard Blood's pass to fire home from close range. Ciervo's revenge was complete.

Super League Dead Empire are out of the Cup after failing to break down FCM Steaua of Division Three. Dead Empire had the better of possession, but failed to create many opportunities. Gheorghe Cebotari had a 41st minute effort ruled out for Steaua, but Ruben Åhrén did manage to get on the scoresheet for Steaua when he volleyed home Yataka Baba's corner, and secured his side's progress to the next round.

Holders Tour de France relied on Albert Hammerhand and Afnan Onn for the second consecutive round, as they secured a 2-0 win over Athletico Charlton of Division Three. Meanwhile, Gks Vitcovia Witkowo defied The Mementos of Division Four, with Alfons Kamprad and Nikita Rozov getting on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win.

Transfer news

Things have been relatively quiet in the transfer market at the big end of the League, with only Dead Empire being active. Empire have released promising youths Prabhat Nath Sinha and Boris Serbinenko, pocketing around 20 million econ for the pair of them. They also sold 19 year old forward Ernkin Emre for 8 million econ and 19 year old goalkeeper Bengt-Arne Wessling for 9.8 million.

In Division One, the rebuilding Whitsunday FC have allowed 21 year old midfielder Royston Dekker to leave, collecting 17.6 million econ in the process. Meanwhile, BioHaZard have continued their clean out, allowing another 14 players to leave, but collecting only 13.6 million econ this time around.

In Division Two, Global Destroyerz were the biggest club to part with any major amounts of cash, signing 30 year old midfielder Serdar Khosrawi for 12.1 million econ. Khosrawin brings a wealth of experience, after 236 matches for Paradox FC in the Major League.

Manager changes

The biggest change in recent times in the Super League took place in Rome, as AS Roma boss Gialrosso, who had led the club for 16 seasons, called it a day with his team struggling in the Super League. Gialrosso has yet to move to another club either in the Super League or elsewhere. His replacement at the former champions is Flavoris, who previously guided CSM Craiova of the Xtreme League from Division Three to the top flight.

FC Barcelona United are another who have struggled for stability this season. 17 year old Yun_Torungolu was appointed as a replacement for the sacked Cotoiu at the beginning of the season, but Torunoglu lasted less than a month before being terminated. Marian_iulian is the latest to step into the hot seat. The former manager of Chelsea LondrA C.F faces quite a challenge, with the club rock bottom of Division 2a, and having suffered an embarrassing cup exit.

Meanwhile, in Division Three, U.S.C. Paredes will be looking for a new manager for the second time this season, after the shock resignation of the recently appointed Resper. Resper had been at the club just 23 days after replacing sacked journeyman manager Anderslöv -- himself with the club just three months.

Xpert Champions League

As noted earlier, Tour de France came about as close to winning the Xpert Champions League as possible without actually winning it. After overcoming CFC Gun Crime, Sparka Spring FC and Fortuna Killepitsch on the road to the final, TdF lined up against The AntiChrists in the final. It was The AntiChrists who dominated, but TdF could have pinched it, but for a second half disallowed goal to Rói Kjellsen. It wasn't Kjellsen's day. Tdf survived the late dismissal of Jarvis Watts to take the match to penalties, but misses from Kjellsen and Afnan Onn handed the tie and the Cup to The AntiChrists.

The Super League's other representatives, Zabriskie Point, bowed out of the XCL to EX6 in the Round of Last 16. A 2-0 away defeat in the first leg proved too much for Zabriskie Point to haul back at Death Valley, a 0-0 draw sending EX6 into the quarter finals.